The Official Valentine’s Day Contest Support Thread 2026

[TheAlphabetGirl]

I think there is still a degree of verisimilitude you want to achieve regardless of genre, but I disagree with that particular commenter. The point was less to complain about me being unfairly downvoted, though, and more to say that if you receive some highly negative reviews, don't be too hasty to assume the votes are made in bad faith, or because your writing was perceived as 'that bad'.

The best ‘reframing’ of the scoring system a friend sent me was this…be happy when you collect 5 & 1’s as it shows you triggered an emotion and that is what art is there for.

and on reflection that’s also how I score. Not just here but with my Google restaurant reviews too! 3 is my lowest score and 5 my most regular (like 90% of the time I rate 5 stars. If I get to the end the writing is more than ok! 3 or 4 if it’s meh in the structure & /or repeating, she said/he said/ they replied

 

[TheAlphabetGirl]

@EmilyMiller - have you ever seen a thread like this? Where you collect or the positive reframing words of encouragement?!

‘One of us’
‘People only score high & low if you trigger an emotion’

I have searched but couldn’t see anything similar & sure the experienced writers have had to do this a lot in the highs and lows of publishing.

Humans will always be emotional creatures right, kinda what makes for a good story…

Anyway - a thread for positive reframing…any suggestions where to find or where to start one?!

 

[ElectricBlue]

Anyway - a thread for positive reframing…any suggestions where to find or where to start one?!

People do start them from time to time. @StillStunned is a stalwart and has several. After a while, once you've read the room, you'll figure out the dynamics, see who joins in, see who doesn't.

Over in the Feedback Forum it's worth checking out @AwkwardMD and @Omenainen' critique thread. It's a writer self volunteering thing - if you want a review, you ask for one. Not always for the faint-hearted, but they put a lot of time into their commentary, which you've got to respect.

 

[EmilyMiller]

22nd January

For Valentines which category
Is going to be best for your story?
Lesbian or Anal?
Maybe Interracial?
Or Horror with real hearts all gory?

 

[StrentWriter]

People do start them from time to time. @StillStunned is a stalwart and has several. After a while, once you've read the room, you'll figure out the dynamics, see who joins in, see who doesn't.

Over in the Feedback Forum it's worth checking out @AwkwardMD and @Omenainen' critique thread. It's a writer self volunteering thing - if you want a review, you ask for one. Not always for the faint-hearted, but they put a lot of time into their commentary, which you've got to respect.

God - might just have to do this.

And whatever the result of the review is - take it like a man.

(And run away quickly)

 

[Aoife_from_Ulster]

Here’s question for you - as all you stories have the symbol & high ratings across the board.

Do you delete stories if they don’t make a certain value?
- Rewrite relaunch, I could see that happening in a series. Like when Bobby Ewing came back in Dallas
- Delete and kill. No point looking back or high giving readers something below average
- Or you have been just a good writer / stories well received over the years!

I have a few stories which haven't been well received. I have not, and will not deleted them.

Just because they did achieve a certain score doesn't mean I am not proud of them. In fact I am proud that I tried my hardest, and more importantly grown from the experience of seeing a less than 4 star rating.

I am a bit different I write for release, for fun and for me. I will not pretend that the low scores don't bother me, they do but I tread forward with positive thoughts and the belief in what I submit.

 

[RoyalAuthor]

Here’s question for you - as all you stories have the symbol & high ratings across the board.

Do you delete stories if they don’t make a certain value?
- Rewrite relaunch, I could see that happening in a series. Like when Bobby Ewing came back in Dallas
- Delete and kill. No point looking back or high giving readers something below average
- Or you have been just a good writer / stories well received over the years!

I have never deleted a story. I've been lucky enough that everything I've written here has been well received since I started in fall 2024. I've gotten some solid criticism before, and agreed with some of it, but apparently it's never been enough to bring me down.

I have killed a couple stories before posting because I didn't like how they turned out, and I once rewrote an entire chapter of my serial from scratch after finishing it and then changed the direction of the chapter entirely, so I'm not immune to bad material. Maybe just nervous enough to not post it.

I've mentioned before that it does add a bit of stress - one day I'll release something that doesn't land well, I know that, and I'm terrified with each new story that it'll be the one.

I've also never posted to the most dangerous categories, like LW or I/T. I did post to LS once and it's my lowest rated story, so that could be a factor.

 

[StrentWriter]

@EmilyMiller would it be possible to put the list of submitted stories in the body of the first post in this thread? Just a thought, might make them more visible.

 

[EmilyMiller]

@EmilyMiller would it be possible to put the list of submitted stories in the body of the first post in this thread? Just a thought, might make them more visible.

A) it changes each day
B) the order changes each time you view the page - so as to not to favor whoever is at the top of a static list - doing what you suggest would advantage some and disadvantage others

So, no, sorry.

 

[EmilyMiller]

@EmilyMiller would it be possible to put the list of submitted stories in the body of the first post in this thread? Just a thought, might make them more visible.

I added a link to the first post…

 

[StrentWriter]

Just as good - thanks so much Emily!

 

[yowser]

Have a question about posting a story in two categories - the Valentine's Day challenge and the pink orchid challenge. How would I do both, submit it twice? If I can get it down to 750 words, I would like to submit it to that challenge as well. TIA

You said categories, but I don't think that's what you meant. VDay is a contest, the others challenges. Don't submit twice but you have a very narrow window: Feb 1-6, to be in all of them. In the admin notes field put ALL the relevant notes, ie VALENTINES DAY 2026,PINK ORCHID, etc. Going for a rare trifecta?

 

[SmilingLez]

You said categories, but I don't think that's what you meant. VDay is a contest, the others challenges. Don't submit twice but you have a very narrow window: Feb 1-6, to be in all of them. In the admin notes field put ALL the relevant notes, ie VALENTINES DAY 2026,PINK ORCHID, etc. Going for a rare trifecta?

Thank you, yes. I meant contest/challenges. I just wondered because the vignette I am working on can fit both in the Valentine's Day contest as well as the Pink Orchid challenge

 

[StrentWriter]

3.95 from 20 ratings so far. Five more and I’ll be in the draw but hope it’ll go above 4.00 again.

 

[EmilyMiller]

3.95 from 20 ratings so far. Five more and I’ll be in the draw but hope it’ll go above 4.00 again.

Don’t get too caught up on comp ratings.
It’s like swimming with piranhas. View it as a fun exercise and an opportunity to connect with new readers.

 

[StrentWriter]

Don’t get too caught up on comp ratings.
It’s like swimming with piranhas.

This is an interesting take. I like it. (It bites though).

(Unintentional wordplay. That’s the tooth).

View it as a fun exercise and an opportunity to connect with new readers.

Will do - thanks Emily!

 

[redgarters]

Here’s question for you - as all you stories have the symbol & high ratings across the board.

Do you delete stories if they don’t make a certain value?
- Rewrite relaunch, I could see that happening in a series. Like when Bobby Ewing came back in Dallas
- Delete and kill. No point looking back or high giving readers something below average
- Or you have been just a good writer / stories well received over the years!

I haven't deleted a story, but I'll admit I've thought about it. It's more related to me wondering if I should focus this account on LGBTQ romance and have another one for the kind of smutty stuff that was in my first stories here. But I think I'll keep them. Just doesn't feel right to take them down, they're part of my history here.

Regarding ratings, I'm a bit peeved over my Valentine's story now, as it been getting voted slowly but surely down into the 4.6ties after entering the LS top list at 4.96 with 100 votes. It's not that I thought it would win, I absolutely didn't expect placing because the story is so sad and teary (and discusses suicide ) but the thing is that it's got over 50 comments that are all very positive. I'd actually love to hear from the people downvoting, what it is that they don't like. Since none of them bother to roast me in the comments, I get the feeling that the vast majority is the comp effect. And I'll admit, that irritates me.

 

[EmilyMiller]

it's got over 50 comments that are all very positive. I'd actually love to hear from the people downvoting, what it is that they don't like. Since none of them bother to roast me in the co

Welcome to my [recent] world. It’s almost like there are people (or a person) out there who have motivations beyond the literary.

 

[StillStunned]

Welcome to my [recent] world. It’s almost like there are people (or a person) out there who have motivations beyond the literary.

Yep, that's what drove me out of competition writing. Particularly when it started spilling over to my other stories.

 

[TheAlphabetGirl]

I haven't deleted a story, but I'll admit I've thought about it. It's more related to me wondering if I should focus this account on LGBTQ romance and have another one for the kind of smutty stuff that was in my first stories here. But I think I'll keep them. Just doesn't feel right to take them down, they're part of my history here.

Regarding ratings, I'm a bit peeved over my Valentine's story now, as it been getting voted slowly but surely down into the 4.6ties after entering the LS top list at 4.96 with 100 votes. It's not that I thought it would win, I absolutely didn't expect placing because the story is so sad and teary (and discusses suicide ) but the thing is that it's got over 50 comments that are all very positive. I'd actually love to hear from the people downvoting, what it is that they don't like. Since none of them bother to roast me in the comments, I get the feeling that the vast majority is the comp effect. And I'll admit, that irritates me.

50 comments!!! Oh my goodness that’s amazing! See that’s a measure of success right there (will be reading yours next :0)

 

[EmilyMiller]

50 comments!!! Oh my goodness that’s amazing! See that’s a measure of success right there (will be reading yours next :0)

It’s an amazing story

 

[ShelbyDawn57]

Yep, that's what drove me out of competition writing. Particularly when it started spilling over to my other stories.

If you can detach yourself from the trolls bombing your votes, the extra exposure to your stories can be worth it. As best as I can tell I’ve one been bombed 5 or 6 times on my valentines story, but I got a few favorites on one of the first stories I published here, so…

 

[redgarters]

50 comments!!! Oh my goodness that’s amazing! See that’s a measure of success right there (will be reading yours next :0)

I'm beyond thankful for how many comments my stories get. Amazed really. It's not something I take for granted. A high rating is of course very nice to have and it attracts readers, but even just a few encouraging comments are an inspiration.

It’s an amazing story

Thank you that's very kind.

 

[PapaRomantic]

I haven't deleted a story, but I'll admit I've thought about it. It's more related to me wondering if I should focus this account on LGBTQ romance and have another one for the kind of smutty stuff that was in my first stories here. But I think I'll keep them. Just doesn't feel right to take them down, they're part of my history here.

Regarding ratings, I'm a bit peeved over my Valentine's story now, as it been getting voted slowly but surely down into the 4.6ties after entering the LS top list at 4.96 with 100 votes. It's not that I thought it would win, I absolutely didn't expect placing because the story is so sad and teary (and discusses suicide ) but the thing is that it's got over 50 comments that are all very positive. I'd actually love to hear from the people downvoting, what it is that they don't like. Since none of them bother to roast me in the comments, I get the feeling that the vast majority is the comp effect. And I'll admit, that irritates me.

I have an alt for publishing stories PapaRomantic does not want to publish. I don’t use it at all for comments, because I don't think that's right.

I am also experiencing the down voting. It's frustrating, but like you, the comments are lessening my frustration a bit. Mine is not a happily ever after story at all, so that might be creating some low votes.

 

[TruthwithaTwist]

Well, I lied! I had decided not to write a Valentine's story this year & focus on Chapter 6 of my Vegas Birthday series and the upcoming April Fools contest. Then, the confluence of things inspired me: first, a random Social Media ad that sparked a memory. Next, a miserable winter cold that had me basically bed & sofa bound for a few days.

It's a fun little story from a long time ago, when my then-girlfriend and I found our Valentine's plans cancelled by a snowstorm. We ended up shifting our plans and making use of what we had in a powerless apartment.

I think it's a decent story - it'll be interesting to see how it does. Overall, my V-times stories don't do as well as others.

Now....the wait for it to post begins.....